“Use independent ambulances to ease A&E crisis”, DoH urged

Independent ambulance services should be mobilized to help NHS trusts deal with the emerging A&E crisis this winter the Department of Health was urged today.

Commenting on the DoH announcement that NHS ambulance services are to be given £15 million to alleviate the pressures, the Independent Ambulance Association said that patient needs would be better met if the money was invested in the independent sector because the trusts have been struggling to cope with the increasing demands on their resources well before the A&E crisis developed.

In a statement, the IAA continued: “If the same amount of money was invested in the independent sector it would move more of the intermediate tier of patients allowing paramedics and NHS ambulance crews to focus their skills and experience on saving lives

“In terms of quality, operational expertise and people qualifications, the public and private ambulance services are on equal footing and there is every justification that they should work together in these difficult situations.

“Any ideological resistance should be put aside to ensure that all patients get the service they need.”